Over 70 per cent of Japanese nationals support emperor's role as symbol of state: Poll

Seventy-four per cent of Japanese citizens support the emperor's symbolic role in the country's government system, the results of the fresh poll, conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, showed on Friday.

Seven per cent of Japanese said they believed monarchy should be abolished, while 4 percent of those polled suggested that the role of the emperor should be strengthened, according to the results of the poll, timed to the Constitution Memorial Day, celebrated in Japan on Friday.

On Tuesday, 85-year-old Emperor Akihito officially abdicated the throne in favor of his 59-year-old son, Naruhito. becoming the first Japanese emperor to voluntarily step down.

Prince Naruhito's ascension, which took place on Wednesday, marks the end of the Heisei era and the beginning of the Reiwa era.

While the emperor has a ceremonial role of the symbol of the state in Japan, the cabinet headed by the Prime Minister governs the country.